Shoe



April 14, 1925. 1,533,287

J. E. WILLIAMS SHOE Filed Feb. 20, 1924 Patented Apr. 14, 1925..

UNITED JAMES E. WILLIAMS, F SPRING CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHOE.

Application filed February 20, 1924. Serial No. 694,085.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES E. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spring City, in the county of Chester and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shoes provided withside portions of elastic fabric; and it consists in the novel construction and combination of the par: hereinafter fully described and claimed, whereby the shoe is put on from the back or rear and the ankle portion is secured snugly around the ankle sothat the she-e is specially adapted for the use of molders in metal foundries.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side View of a shoe constructed according to this invention. Fig. 2 is a rear end View of the shoe with the flap open. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the ankle portion showing the flap open. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the flap closed. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail iews of the hook.

The sole 6 and heel 7 of the shoe are of any approved construction. The counter and rear part of the ankle portion is preferably formed in two pieces 8 and 9. The upper 10 over the instep is preferably formed in a single piece with the front part 12 of the ankle portion. Side portions 1 1 of elastic fabric are secured between the front and rear ankle portions.

The two portions of the counter are secured together by a seam 11 at the rear of the shoe, and one portion 8 of the ankle part is provided with flap 15 which overlaps the ankle portion of the other part 9. The part 9 has a spring-pressed hook 16 secured to it by a frame 17. The hook 16 has pivots 18 which are mounted in the frame, and the frame has a spring tongue 19 which engages with a. projection 20 on the hook and holds it in its open position and also in its closed position.

The flap 15 has a I'e-inforcing strip 21 secured? to its top edge, and slots 22 are formed in it and in the strip, and are arranged vertically and parallel to each other. Molders who work in metal foundries require to wear shoes which will resist the moisture of the damp sand, and which have no openings through which sparks or molten drops of metal can penetrate to their feet. When a mold is being poured some metal occasionally is spilled, and splashes up, and if any molten portion lodges in the shoe of a molder it may cause him to drop the ladle. A shoe with elastic side portions, and which opens at the rear, is therefore preferred, and the shoe hereinbefore described has those advantages, and the additional advantage that when the foot is inserted in it the ankle portions can be drawn snugly around the ankle. A suitable slot is slipped over the end of the hook. when the hook is open, and the hook is then turned on its pivots forwardly. This draws the lap circumferentially of the ankle, and makes the ankle portion fit snugly around the ankle. elastic side portions 14; are between the parts 8 and 9 and the front part 12, they are stretched a little when the hook is closed, and are retained under tension and in close contact with the ankle of the wearer. The shoes are made with the flaps and hooks arranged right and left, and the closure is effectedv by a single movement of one hand after the shoe has been put on the foot. which is not possible when the closure is effected by buckles and straps, or by lacing the parts together.

The shoe can also be removed from the foot expeditiously should any accident make it necessary.

W'hat I claim is:

In a shoe, an upper, a quarter formed of two parts extending to the shoe heel and united by a seam adjacent to the heei, one portion of the quarter being in'ovided with a fiap which overlaps the other portion, side portions of elastic material secured between the upper and the two portions of the quarter, a reinforcing strip secured to the top edge of the said flap, said strip and flap being provided with slots, and a fastening device secured to the under portion of the quarter and adapted to engage with the said slots and contract the ankle portion of the shoe upon the ankle of the wearer.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

JA MES ll). lVILLIAMS.

As the 

